Operating connection



Feb. 21, 1933.

A. Y. DODGE OPERATING CONNECTION Filed March 28, 1929 I INVENTOR. Ada-l 11117061542 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE amen Y. Down, or scorn 3mm, INDIAN or scorn BEND,

OPERATING CONNECTION Application filed March 28, 1829. Serial No. 350,502.

ihis invention relates to operating mechanism for brakes or the like, and is illustrated as embodied in a novel front brake control or operating device. An objectof the in- 5 vention is to facilitate the adjustment of the brake or its equivalent, for example to compensate for wear, preferably by simplifying the manner of adjusting a lever on a shaft. Various features of novelty relate to predetermining the release movement of the device after forcibly applying it, and to the mechanical structure of the parts to permit the desired semi-automatic adjustment.

The above and other ob ects and features of the invention, including various novel and desirable details of construction, will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment s WI1 in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of my novel front brake control, with the connection between the shaft and lever shown in vertical section; 4

, Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the connection in side elevation; and

4 Figure 3 is a section, corresponding to part of Figure 1, but showing a modified connection.

In the arrangem 30 tion, the brake is applied by'means such as a cam 10, by a shaft 12 connected to the cam through a suitable universal joint in a housing 14, and supported on the chassis frame 16 by any suitable device 18 permitting slight axial movements of the shaft as theframe moves up and down when the vehicle springs are flexed.

The shaft preferably has an operating part, such as a cylindrical drum 20 preferably formed with an external thread or series of peripheral grooves, and which is secured to the shaft in any desired manner. This part 20 is shown as a steel or brass stamping.

An operating lever 22 is provided with a friction strap 24, preferably threaded or grooved to mesh with the threads or grooves on part 20, and which embraces part 20. One

= end of stra 24 is fixedly secured by means such as a rivet or screw 26, while the other 50 end is yieldingly held by means such as a at selected for illustrashaft until the forward end of slot 42 engages spring washer 28 held by a nut 30 on a bolt 32 passing through the lever.

In Figure 3, the strap 124 and drum, 120 are shown with plane friction surfaces instead of with threads or grooves. The threads or grooves of Figural may be regarded as in effect a series of small cone clutches frictionally gripping lever 22 to the shaft 12.

In both arrangements, it will be seen that moving lever 22 to the right in Figure 2, w which is in a brake-applying direction, causes strap 24 to have a wrapping or clutching action and firmly holds lever 22 in place on the shaft. In the other direction of movement, strap 24 has an unwrap ing tendency, and the lever can be shi ed on the shaft by applying a little force. Thus strap .24 in effect forms a one-way clutch between the lever and the shaft.

Lever 22 is connected at its end to a link 36, Which preferably has spherically-surfaced nuts 38 and 40 seated in correspondin sockets in opposite sides of the lever. Lilli 36 has at its rear end a slot 42, of predetermined length, embracing a pivot 44 on an arm 46 fixed to an operatin shaft 48. If

referred, arm 46 may be an idler lever connected by an suitable means to the operating shaft. djacent arm 46, frame 16 has an opening 50, into which a pin or stop may be inserted when desired to prevent movepoent of arm 46in a brake-applying direcion.

When it is desired to adjust the brake, a'pin or stop is inserted in opening 50 while the brake is released, and 'a. wrench is applied to a polygonal portion 52 of shaft 12. The wrench is then turned forcibly, fully to apply the brake, which action serves to make the desired adjustment, whereupon the wrench and the stops are removed.

When the wrench'is operated as described, to turn the shaft 12, lever 22 turns with the the pivot pin 44, the latter being held immovable by the stop 'in opening 50. Further turning of the shaft hy the wrench, with lever 22 now held stationary causes the shaft and drum 20 to turn within the strap this tion, two operating being permitted by the unwrapping tendency of the strap due to movement in this direction, thus shifting the lever on the shaft to a new or adjusted position.

Now when the brake is released, the shaft are allowe to move away from the drum only far enough to prevent dragging.

While certain illustrative constructions have been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention to those particular constructions, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

claim:

1. An adjustable operating connection for a brake or the like comprising, in combinaforcibly in a brake-applyin direction and then holding the lever whi e the shaft is turned further into fully applied position.

2. An adjustable operating connection for a brake or the like comprising, in combinamembers having a oneway shiftable connection, and means for perosition.

3. Operating mechanism-for a. bra e or the like comprising, in combination, a brake-applyin member, an operating member conthe applying member when d in one direction and shiftable thereon 4. Operating mechanism for a brake or the like comprising, in combination, a member movable to apply the brake, an operatin member therefor and connected thereto, an means for shifting the connection between said members during movement thereof in a brake-applying direction when the ap member is moved to fully-applied position so that there Will be movement only. v

5. Operating mechanism for a brake or the like comprising, in combination, a shaft, a lever having a one-way connection to the shaft, and means arranged to be set to limit the movement of the lever in one direction and cause it to shift on the shaft.

6. Operating mechanism for a brake or the like comprising, in combination, a shaft, a lever having acne-way connection to the frictionally gripping said part and after to shift on the shaft.

7. Operating mechanism for a brake or the like comprising, ing a relatively i stra shaft continues to turn.

8. Operating mechanism for a brake or the e comprising,in combination, a shaft having a lever-engaging part, lever having a predetermined stra shifts with shaf ti continues to turn.

9. Operating mechanism for a brake or the l' e comprisin in combination, a shaft having a lever-engaging part, and an operating lever having a stra embracing and frictionally gripping sai h is armovement while the strafp shifts with respect to the shaft as the sha t continues to turn.

10. Operating mechanism for a brake or the like comprising, in combination, a shaft having a lever-engaging part, and an operlever having a strap embracing and which is predetermined degree of fixedly secured at the other end, together with an operating member connected to said lever and means for arresting motion of said member and the lever a ter a predetermined degree of move ment while the strap shifts with respect to the shaft as the shaft continues to turn.

In mstimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ADIEL Y. DODGE. I

I at one end and yieldingly held 

